The postal union said today that a strike will begin at 11:59 p.m. EDT in Winnipeg.

"The Winnipeg local will be on strike for 24 hours, after which the strike will continue in other locations to be announced later," noted the CUPW website. "The purpose of this strike activity is to encourage Canada Post Corporation to abandon their proposals for significant concessions and instead negotiate solutions to the very real problems that are being experienced by 48,000 postal workers."
Winnipeg has been chosen as the location for the first strike activity "because it was the first city to be impacted by Canada Post's modernization program", noted the union.

In a statement June 1, the union indicated it met with Canada Post president Deepak Chopra and negotiator Mark MacDonell, as well as the Minister of Labour Lisa Raitt. "We informed Mr. Chopra that the union remained strongly opposed to the short-term disability plan and to lower wages and benefits for new hires as proposed by management," the statement reads.

Nothing more was resolved during the meeting with Minister Raitt, noted the union, adding the minister requested to meet with both parties soon for an update on negotiations.

As of 5 p.m. EDT on June 1, there are no more meetings scheduled, noted CUPW.

Canada Post issued a statement June 1 noting it remains available around the clock to meet with CUPW and reach a successful conclusion.

"Canada Post's core lettermail business has fallen by more than 17% per address since the beginning of 2006, this is not a trend that will reverse itself," said the corporation. "Wages and benefits account for close to two-thirds of Canada Post's revenue."